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Telecommunications
GITA provides strategic oversight and leadership to develop advanced
telecommunications (Broadband) service and infrastructure throughout
Arizona. Major goals of the telecommunications program include:
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Establish and coordinate statewide telecommunications policy.
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Bring together public and private entities to address shared
telecommunications interests.
Assist the planning for public and private telecommunications
systems.
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Study, evaluate and advise state agencies, the legislature,
institutions of higher education, tribes and local governments on
matters of telecommunications policy, including services and
systems, and telecommunications procurement practices.
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Coordinate telecommunications grant requests to the federal
government.
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Participate in national discussions about telecommunications
infrastructure and issues and coordinate public and private sector
conversations and plans concerning innovative telecommunications
projects, programs and demonstrations.
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Advocate economic development issues relating to telecommunications.
Rural broadband
development
GITA has been involved in several initiatives to encourage the development
of telecommunication infrastructure in rural areas of the State. In
these partnerships, GITA utilizes the award winning Telecommunication
Open Partnership of Arizona (TOPAZ) to guide agency interactions in
telecommunication projects throughout the State. TOPAZ encourages State
and local government organizations to actively partner with, and be the
anchor tenant for, private sector broadband infrastructure build-out
projects.
Communications Infrastructure Advisory Committee (CIAC)
GITA provides staffing support and strategic direction to the Arizona
Communications Infrastructure Advisory Committee. This Public/Private
committee is part of the Governor’s Council on Innovation and Technology
(GCIT). The CIAC focuses on the issues related to the ubiquitous
deployment of Broadband capability to all of Arizona. Key issues include
Middle Mile, Last Mile, Right-of-Way and definition funding solutions.
Current efforts are concentrated on Rural Arizona along with other
deficit areas in both Urban and Rural settings.
Arizona GIS Broadband Survey
GITA’s intent for this
Broadband Assessment Geographic Information System (GIS) Study -
completed January 2009, is as a Phase1 step toward a full GIS Survey of
Arizona’s broadband infrastructure. A completed Survey will provide
Arizona’s decision makers details about Broadband capacities and
deficits areas across Arizona’s landscape, leading to better decisions
about broadband deployment, economic development, the digital delivery
of education, health care and government services, statewide.
In the Information Age, knowing the availability or deficits of
Broadband infrastructure in a particular area is critical for decisions
about quality of life for that area. We believe the Study to be the most
current view of what is happening nationally regarding implementation
strategies for Broadband surveys, and general Broadband policies in the
States. It is our hope that others can benefit from this Study and
thereby move closer to the goal of ubiquitous Broadband availability.
Web Links
Last updated:
06/10/2009 |
Rural broadband
development
Communications Infrastructure Advisory Committee (CIAC)
Arizona GIS Broadband Survey
Web Links
Galen Updike
Broadband Telecommunications
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